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Traveling by Jeep, boat and foot, Tribune-Review investigative reporter Carl Prine and photojournalist Justin Merriman covered nearly 2,000 miles over two months along the border with Mexico to report on coyotes — the human traffickers who bring illegal immigrants into the United States. Most are Americans working for money and/or drugs. This series reports how their operations have a major impact on life for residents and the environment along the border — and beyond.

Wire Reports

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, 8:57 p.m.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Angels traded slugging outfielder-first baseman Mark Trumbo to the Diamondbacks on Tuesday as part of a three-team deal that also included the White Sox.

Pitcher Hector Santiago moved from the White Sox to the Angels, outfielder Adam Eaton from the Diamondbacks to Chicago and left-hander Tyler Skaggs from Arizona to Los Angeles.

Arizona also will receive player to be named or cash from each of the other clubs in the deal made at the winter meetings.

Trumbo hit .234 with 34 homers and 100 RBIs in 2013, getting much of his playing time at first base because Albert Pujols was hurt. But he was deemed superfluous by Los Angeles, which needs starting pitching behind Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Garrett Richards.

Left-hander Anderson to Rockies

A person with knowledge of the trade said the Athletics dealt left-hander Brett Anderson to the Rockies for lefty Drew Pomeranz and minor league pitcher Chris Jensen.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced. Two-time AL West champion Oakland had been looking to move Anderson, who is due to make $8 million this season and has a $12 million contract option for 2015.

Anderson made a late-season stint as a reliever following an injury-shortened season in which he went 1-4 with a 6.04 in five starts and 16 appearances.

Dealing a pair of aces?

CBSSports.com reported that the Phillies are willing to trade lefty co-aces Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee but that the Phillies are not willing to include cash in any deal involving either hurler.

Hamels, at minimum, is signed through 2018 at a cost of $112.5 million (there's also a $24 million vesting option for 2019). Lee is owed $25 million for each of the next two seasons, and in 2016 his contract includes a $27.5 million vesting option/$12.5-million buyout.

Hamels, who turns 30 later this month, is a three-time All-Star, and three times he's finished in the top 10 of the NL Cy Young balloting.

Lee, 35, paced the majors in K/BB in each of the last two seasons, and he's logged at least 211 innings in each of the last six.

Prior retires

Though he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2006, former Cubs ace Mark Prior has long been attempting to return. Until now. He officially retired from baseball, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Prior appeared in seven games for the Louisville Bats (Reds' Triple-A affiliate). He's still only 33 years old, so a comeback wasn't out the question. But he has been unable to stay healthy for long stretches for most of the past decade.

Prior went 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA and 757 strikeouts in 657 innings.

No decision on Japanese star

Rakuten Eagles president Yozo Tachibana said no decision has been made on whether star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will be made available to Major League Baseball teams. Tachibana plans to talk with Tanaka, likely next week.

Around the league

Miguel Cabrera, the two-time reigning American League MVP who had surgery in mid-November to repair core muscles damaged by a groin tear, will be 100 percent healthy by spring training. ... The Orioles signed free agent right-hander Ryan Webb to a two-year contract. Webb had a 2.91 ERA with the Marlins in 2012 and reached career highs with 66 games, 80 1⁄3 innings and 54 strikeouts. ... Catcher J.P. Arencibia and the Rangers finalized a $1.8 million, one-year contract. ... First baseman-outfielder Garrett Jones and the Marlins finalized a two-year, $7.75 million contract. ... The Denver Post reported that Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez took practice swings for the first time this offseason and didn't report any pain from a sprained middle finger that sidelined him for the final two months of 2013.

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